Knowledge and adoption levels of farmers of bivoltine and cross breed sericultural technologies.

摘要

This study was conducted to: (i) examine the knowledge and adoption level of sericultural technologies by farmers; (ii) investigate the relationship of socioeconomic factors with knowledge and adoption levels; and (iii) determine the factors influencing cocoon yield of bivoltine and multivoltine races among farmers. Data were gathered from 90 farmers in Malavalli and Srirangapatna taluks, Madhya district, Karnataka, India. It was found that 79% farmers adopted shoot harvesting method followed by technologies such as separate rearing house (69%), high yielding mulberry varieties (62%), application of manure (36%), maintenance of temperature and humidity (35.50%), leaf harvesting method (33.75%), and cocoon harvesting (32%). Further, it was recorded that few farmers were new to bivoltine sericulture and their age was approximately more than 50. It is suggested that credit support must be extended to farmers who wish to take up bivoltine silkworm rearing, which can be addressed through joint efforts of DOS and banks. Moreover, there must be a mechanism to ensure stable price for bivoltine cocoon. It is expected that when farmers are given credit support and assured of cocoon price, they will follow the technologies recommended with less hesitation.